Ph.D. Program

The Department of History at USF offers two graduate degree programs. Students may enroll in a program of study, coursework, and directed research leading either to a Master of Arts (M.A.) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Areas of specialization cover a number of fields, including Colonial through Modern US; the Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern Worlds; Modern Europe; and Latin America.

Our Ph.D. program features an innovative model of doctoral education designed to insure broad interdisciplinary connections with the related disciplines of Anthropology, English, Geography, Sociology, Political Science, and International Relations.

The department’s nationally and internationally recognized faculty creates a dynamic learning environment that fosters close interaction between students and teachers.  We pride ourselves on training students to be scholars and teachers at all levels of education, while also offering preparation for careers outside academia in government agencies, historical societies, libraries and museums.

To foster an ideal working relationship between students and faculty, the History Department at USF only admits a few Ph.D. students each year who are prepared to make a full-time commitment to pursuing the degree.

Students admitted to the Ph.D. program will receive a four-year financial package that includes a Graduate Assistantship with a $15,000 per year stipend plus tuition.

Please note that the following description of requirements for the Ph.D. program in History is provisional and subject to change as this new degree offering is currently under development.

View the entire Ph.D. program manual here

Requirements for the Doctorate of Philosophy in History (Ph.D.)

Admissions
• The university's application for admission is available online at http://admissions.grad.usf.edu/prospective/Graduate_Application.html

• For further information about USF Graduate programs see their website at http://www.grad.usf.edu/newsite/main.asp
Applications will only be accepted for admission in the Fall term of each year.

• The deadline for Fall 2010 entry is January 15th. Applications are only accepted for Fall admission.

• The minimum requirements for admission to the PhD program in history include:

1. Master's Degree and Grade Point Average: Applicants must have completed an M.A. in History or a related field (as determined by the admissions committee) with a G.P.A. in graduate level coursework of at least 3.5 as demonstrated by official transcripts. Once admitted to the program, continuance is dependent upon maintaining a 3.0 G.P.A.



2. Graduate Record Exam: Successful applicants will have a score of at least 1100 (600 minimum in the verbal area) on the G.R. E. For information about GRE testing administered through the USF Division of Evaluation and Testing, see http://www.outreach.usf.edu/conted/testing/Details.asp?tcode=GRE



3. Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation on behalf of the applicant are required. These letters should come from academic sources familiar with the quality of the applicant's scholarly work and indicate his/her doctoral program potential. You should use this form when requesting letters from USF faculty.



4. Statement of Purpose: A statement of historical and intellectual areas of interest, proposed fields of study, and educational and professional goals is required.



5. Sample of Writing: A sample of written work which indicates the applicant's ability to conduct primary source based research and to write effectively must be submitted. Such a sample may include a publication, a seminar paper, or a thesis chapter.



6. Language: Successful applicants will have demonstrated proficiency in the language of their primary field of study.



7. Further information may be requested by the department as necessary, possibly including a finalist interview.

• Please Note: Items 3, 4 and 5 should be sent directly to the Graduate Coordinator at the Department of History (Coordinator of Graduate Studies; Dept. of History, SOC 107; University of South Florida; 4202 E. Fowler Ave.; Tampa, FL 33620).  These items MUST be submitted in hard-copies.  Electronic copies will NOT be accepted.  Letters of recommendation should be sent directly from the recommender, or, if sent by the student, must be in sealed envelopes that have been signed across the seal.

Plan of Study

• The university defines full-time status for graduate students as 9 credit hours. Since history courses are 4 credit hours each, a full-time student usually takes two 4 credit hour courses and 1 credit hour of "Independent Study," normally with one of the professors with whom the student is studying that semester.

• In addition to the general requirements of the University as explained in the USF Graduate School Catalog, a candidate is required to complete a total of 58 hours in the following distribution:

Interdisciplinary Pro-Seminar (3 hours)
This course will serve as an introduction to the interdisciplinary nature of this unique Ph.D. program, and will offer new students to the History program the opportunity to engage with their colleges in Political Science and Sociology.  The Pro-Seminar will be organized around one common theme and focus on the methodologies and theories of these related disciplines so that students gain a working knowledge of the complementary aspects of these fields.

Analysis of Historical Knowledge (4 hours)
A staple of graduate level history education, the Analysis of Historical Knowledge examines both the theories behind and the practical effects of varieties of methodological approaches to historical research.  Students who have taken this course as part of a USF History MA will not be required to repeat it.

Seminar in Comparative Studies (4 hours)
The Seminar in Comparative Studies introduces doctoral candidates to the breadth of scholarship on social concepts such as globalization, imperialism, identity, urbanization, etc.  These seminars will guide students through scholarship on various times and places, all organized and united around the same central concept, to demonstrate the different perspectives achieved by comparative study. 

Major Field Studies (24 hours)
Students will complete approximately six courses within the History department devoted to the study of their primary region and period of interest.

Interdisciplinary Electives (6-8 hours)
Students will complete two courses chosen from the course offerings in the Department of Sociology and/or the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Capstone Seminar (3-4 hours)
This course will act as the final participatory course work of Ph.D. candidates before they proceed to the dissertation writing stage. 

Dissertation Writing Hours (18 hours)
These hours are intended to give students the opportunity to work closely with their dissertation committee and focus on writing. 

• After beginning course work, Ph.D. students will select an adviser in their anticipated major field of study. Students arrange their programs and schedules of appropriate courses with their major adviser. Additionally, the student in consultation with the adviser asks two other members (normally one from the major and one from the minor fields) to serve on a supervisory committee. The student is required to have completed successfully at least 4 credits of course work with each member of his/her committee. This three-person committee, under the direction of the major professor, will supervise course work, prepare the comprehensive examination, and direct the dissertation. An additional dissertation reader may serve on the committee with approval of the members of the committee. All Ph.D. students are expected to maintain an up-to-date record of their progress with the "Graduate Student Data Form" to be provided.  This form may be requested by the department at any time to review student progress, and will be kept as a part of the student’s Department file. Students with two unresolved "Incomplete" grades (of any credit total) will not be permitted to register for additional history courses until at least one "Incomplete" grade is resolved.

Enrolling in Graduate Seminars

• All history graduate courses (and many in other departments as well) require a permit, which is granted only by the professor teaching the course. This necessitates students contacting instructors, usually initially by email, to explain their interest in the course and to request a permit to enroll.  Since enrollments are limited, usually to fifteen students, this means beginning the process of requesting permits long before the actual registration process.  A list of permitted students is kept by the department's office staff.  They are notified by the professor once permission to enroll in a course is granted.

• The schedule of classes is available online at http://www.registrar.usf.edu/ssearch/search.php. Faculty email addresses are available on the department's website at www.cas.usf.edu/history.  Please note that you cannot rely on the number of "spaces available" in a course listed on OASIS because a course may well be filled with permitted students who have not yet registered.  In addition, courses often have a waiting list.

Annual Evaluation

• Ph.D. students will be evaluated by the end of each academic year to determine the student’s progress towards degree and teaching and/or research assignment if applicable. These evaluations will be completed by the Graduate Committee in consultation with the Major Professor and teaching supervisors.

Major Professor and Supervisory Committee

• Upon admittance to the program, students are assigned a Provisional Advisor in their field of study to give them guidance as they begin the program.  This Provisional Advisor may become their Major Professor, or the student may find, after beginning coursework, another faculty member in their field whom they feel is a better fit for that role.  After beginning course work, usually by the beginning of the second year, Ph.D. students will select an advisor in their anticipated major field of study.  Students arrange their programs and schedules of appropriate courses with their Major Professor.  The Major Professor also oversees the composition of the Supervisory Committee and directs the dissertation.

• Additionally, the student in consultation with the Major Professor, asks two other members (normally one from the major and one from the minor fields) to serve on a supervisory committee.

• The student is required to have completed successfully at least 4 credits of course work with each member of his/her committee.

• This four-person committee, under the direction of the Major Professor, will supervise course work, prepare the comprehensive examination, direct the dissertation, and conduct the dissertation defense.

• The student is encouraged to add additional committee members, either from within or outside the department (one may be from outside the university), with approval of the Major Professor; however, there must always be three History Department faculty members on the committee.

• Usually, the student makes the first contact with faculty who may be appropriate to serve on the committee, but it is usually helpful to discuss possible members with the Major Professor before approaching other faculty.

• When inviting faculty members to serve on their committee, the student should apprise them in general terms about the nature of their research and disciplinary interests, so that the faculty member can make an informed decision.

• Once a committee has been determined, the Graduate Supervisory Committee Form needs to be completed by the student and submitted to the Committee Members for original signature.  A PDF of the Supervisory Committee Form is available on the History Department website.

• Changes to a Supervisory Committee must be submitted on a Change of Committee Form.

• An approved and current Supervisory Committee Form must be on file in the College before graduation may be certified.  Committee forms need to be processed no later than the semester prior to graduation.

Language Requirement for Ph.D. Students

• Students must demonstrate proficiency in their primary language of research by the end of the first year of study.  In fields where more than one language is required, students must complete their language exams before they can take the comprehensive exam.  Language requirements must be fulfilled before students can progress to the dissertation stage.

• Written examinations to test a student’s language proficiency will be administered through the USF History Department or USF Department of World Languages in conjunction with the student’s Major Professor.  The precise format of the exam and the level of language competency needed to pass will be determined in each case by the student’s Major Professor.   

• Students must demonstrate proficiency in the languages required by their field of study as indicated below, but they may be required to take additional exams depending on their specialization.  For fields not listed here, students should consult their Major Advisor.

Field                                            Language(s) required
Ancient                                Classical Greek, Classical Latin, French, and German

Asia                                     Primary Asian language of research plus one
                                          additional language

Byzantine                             Byzantine Greek, Latin, French, and German

Early Modern Europe               Primary European language of research plus one
                                          additional European language (Latin may be required                                           in some cases)

Europe                                 Primary European language of research plus one                                           additional European language

Latin America                        Spanish and Portuguese

Medieval Europe                     Medieval Latin, plus two additional European
                                          languages 

Middle East                           Primary Middle Eastern language of research plus
                                          one additional language

United States                        Foreign language most pertinent to research agenda

Comprehensive Examinations

• Upon completion of 40 coursework credit hours (minimum), which will normally occur at the end of the third year, students must pass written and oral comprehensive examinations in the applicable major and minor fields. 

• If a student has satisfactorily completed the “Analysis” requirement at the M.A. level, that is, before admission, the student is eligible to take the comprehensive examination after a minimum of 36 hours of coursework.

• These exams will be conducted by the student’s Supervisory Committee.  The oral exams shall be taken within one week after the written exams have been completed.  Exams may be retaken once if necessary.

• A student must have no "Incomplete" grades and be enrolled for a minimum of two hours during the term the comprehensive examination is taken. The examinations must be scheduled at least 60 days in advance and administered before the week of final exams.

Admission to Candidacy

• In order to be admitted to doctoral candidacy, students must meet the following requirements at USF:

1. Admission to a doctoral program
2. Appointment of a Doctoral Committee
3. Attainment of an overall and degree program Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 at USF at the time of candidacy.
(All “I” and “M” grades, including “MF” must be cleared before candidacy may be finalized)
4. Completion of a qualifying examination
5. Certification by the Doctoral Committee that the above qualifications have been successfully completed

• The Admission to Candidacy form should be submitted for approval no later than the semester following the successful completion of the comprehensive exam. The form will be approved by the Dean of the College and forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School for final approval. Doctoral Candidacy is effective as of the day that the Graduate School approves of the request and changes the student’s status.

• As long as the Candidacy request is received between the first and last day of class during the fall and spring semesters or between the first day of class and one week before the last day of class in Session B during the summer semester, and the Candidacy is cleared for approval, the Candidacy will be effective as of that semester.

• Once candidacy status is approved, the student may then enroll in dissertation hours the following semester. Students may NOT enroll in dissertation hours prior to being admitted to doctoral candidacy.

•Each degree program has a required number of dissertation hours for completion of the degree. Departments may, with College approval, apply Directed Research hours toward the total number of dissertation hours required. Directed Research hours shall not exceed 50% of the dissertation hour requirement. No directed research hours will be converted to dissertation hours (i.e. a directed research course dropped and a dissertation course added) prior to or during the semester of Candidacy.

Dissertation

Defining Student Research Interests
 • Major Professors and other faculty play a significant role in helping students define their interests and/or research plans. The Major Professor is not responsible for identifying and setting up the research project; the major responsibility lies with students. As students begin to develop research ideas, or when they find they are changing direction in interests, they should discuss progress with the Major Professor.

What is the dissertation proposal/prospectus?
• When the dissertation research has developed to a point where an outline of the dissertation can be conceptualized, the student will develop a proposal/prospectus with the guidance of his/her Major Professor. This need not be a lengthy document, but is plan for writing the dissertation, usually including chapter outlines and a discussion of relevant historiography and where a particular project fits into it.

• It is not necessary to have a separate meeting of the committee to consider the proposal; however, the Major Professor may decide to call one if s/he feels important issues need clarifying. More usually, the student is responsible for contacting each committee member to obtain feedback and advice. All committee members must approve the final draft of the proposal, and a copy should be placed in the student’s file.

How does writing the dissertation proceed?
• Individual dissertation projects vary.  The processes through which research is conducted and the sequence in which the chapters are written should be discussed and coordinated between the student and Major Professor.  It is also essential that a timetable be established for the submission of draft chapters.

• The involvement of committee members during the creation of the first draft of the dissertation will depend on various factors, but the advisor is responsible for monitoring the student’s progress and determining the point at which the draft thesis is ready to be circulated to the committee. Major Professors should provide timely feedback on drafts that are submitted and keep the other committee members informed about the student’s progress.

• Once the Major Professor is satisfied that the dissertation is ready for review by the entire committee, the student should be instructed to provide copies to each of them. The Major Professor is encouraged to make sure the student provides copies to committee members in a timely fashion, allowing them sufficient time to read and review. However, this is primarily the student’s responsibility.

Who is responsible for making sure deadlines are met to review drafts of dissertations?
• It is crucial that graduate students understand the need to allow plenty of time when planning to write the dissertation.  A Ph.D. dissertation in History takes minimally a year to write after what is typically a full year dedicated to research. There must be opportunities for significant feedback, revision, and so forth, prior to that final copy being submitted.

• The dissertation must be read and approved by the entire committee, and all members must have the opportunity to read it thoroughly and request changes and revisions. Students should not assume that because the Major Professor has approved a draft, that the other members are "rubber stamps." They may suggest substantial revisions, and time is needed to respond. 

• Students should typically allow for at least three months between handing their copy in the faculty on the committee and delivering the final copy to the Graduate School.  Students should also note that hard university deadlines for submission of a final copy are generally in early November or early April, not the end of the semester.

• Students should not plan on going through the entire writing/revision process during the summer, when committee members and Major Professor might not be on academic contract and therefore unavailable for thesis/dissertation review and defense.

What is the process for reviewing the dissertation?
• Once the proposal/prospectus has been accepted, the student is officially writing the dissertation.  Major Professors should establish a timetable for submission of draft chapters, and provide feedback in a timely way.

• Involvement of the other committee members during the draft stage depends on
individual circumstances; generally the Major Professor assumes primary responsibility for reviewing drafts until the dissertation is sufficiently well developed to involve the entire committee. However, the Major Professor should periodically inform other committee members about the student’s progress.

• When the student has developed an acceptable, although not necessarily complete, first draft of the entire dissertation, the committee members should be brought fully into the process to provide suggestions for revisions, leading to consensus that the dissertation is ready to be defended.

• At this time, or before, the student should confer with the Program Assistant and appropriate staff in the Graduate School for a “format check," which must be completed by a specific deadline (see below).
.
How is the dissertation defense conducted?
• The Graduate Program Assistant executes paper work certifying that the dissertation is ready for defense, following the guidance of the Major Professor and the requirements of the Graduate School and the College. Advertisement of the defense must be posted at least two weeks prior to the date on which the defense is to occur to comply with State requirements.

• In addition, an Outside Chair for the defense must be appointed. This individual must be a tenured faculty member in a department other than History, but whose expertise is compatible with the topic. The Major Professor is responsible for identifying this person, and for requesting her/him to serve.  The student may make suggestions about whom to contact. If the Outside Chair is from another institution, this individual should have the same qualifications necessary to chair a dissertation in the subject area at the University of South Florida.  The Outside Chair presides over the defense and facilitates the proceedings, and should be provided with a copy of the dissertation at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date.  Information on the Outside Chair and on the procedures for conducting the defense are noted in the Graduate Catalog.

• The time and date will be set by the Major Professor, based on availability of the committee members and Outside Chair.

• The Graduate Program Assistant will schedule a room.

• The defense should last at least two hours, and is a public event. The student must create the defense announcement, available on the College of Arts and Sciences website: http://web1.cas.usf.edu/MAIN/contentDisplay.cfm?contentID=424&Family=Y, which should be posted in a prominent location at least 24 hours prior to the defense date.  A copy of the announcement must also be submitted to the Graduate School, preferably two weeks prior to the defense date. Posting on the USF News list and the History Department website is also recommended. The public, including other students, faculty, friends, and relatives, are welcome to attend, although they will be asked to vacate the room during the committee’s final deliberations.

• The Outside Chair opens the defense, which begins with a presentation by the candidate designed to summarize the dissertation that should be no longer than 20 minutes.

• Committee members then take turns posing questions to the candidate, with about 15 minutes for each person with subsequent rounds of questioning as necessary. When the questioning is finished, the candidate and public must leave the room.

• The Committee then discusses both the dissertation itself and the performance of the candidate in the defense. A determination will be made:
•  The student may pass the defense and dissertation with no further revisions needed.
•  The student passes contingent on specified changes or additions.
•  The student may be required to schedule a second defense, if the committee deems the performance inadequate. This outcome is very rare.

•The Outside Chair may share his/her impressions of the candidate and the dissertation.  The Outside Chair will preside over deliberations and voting but is not to participate in the voting.  The Outside Chair has the responsibility of tallying the votes and informing the candidate of the final decision.

•The vote of the Dissertation Committee must be unanimous and recorded on the Successful Defense form.

• Once the decision has been reached, the student is invited back into the room and is informed of the outcome. If revisions are needed, these should be explained clearly prior to adjourning the Defense, and a plan developed for when the final draft will be completed and how it will be assessed.

•If changes are minor, all committee members usually sign the Successful Defense form certifying the outcome of the Defense. If revisions are significant, certification may be withheld until the entire committee is satisfied. The Outside Chair, with the assistance of the Graduate Program Assistant, is responsible for conveying this form to the College of Arts and Sciences.  The Graduate School receives confirmation of the successful defense as part of the Certificate of Approval submitted with the dissertation as part of the final submission process.

How is the final version submitted?  
• The format check materials must be submitted by the posted deadline in the semester in which the student plans to complete. This is early in the semester, typically four weeks after classes start. Students should confer with the Graduate Program Assistant and appropriate staff in the Graduate School about this process.

•For specific details about the required format of the dissertation see: http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.asp

• The format check deadline is the same date that the Application for Degree form is due to the Registrar’s office. Deadlines are available online at: http://www.grad.usf.edu 

• The final submission materials must be submitted by the posted deadline each semester. In order to finalize the submission, these steps must be completed:

1. Manuscript is complete
2. Dissertation/thesis is successfully defended/approved
3. All changes required by the Major Professor and the Committee are complete and approved
4. All changes needed to comply with University format requirements are done
5. Certificate of Approval form is complete, with signatures of entire committee, as well as Graduate Director or Associate Dean for the committee verification line

• The student must submit one hard-copy of the final version of the dissertation to the Department and one electronic copy, along with the required forms, etc., to the Graduate School by the posted final submission deadline. This document must be in conformity with Graduate School and disciplinary requirements regarding style and format, and it must bear the signatures of all committee members. This step is the responsibility of the student, but the Major Professor should be aware of the deadline for that semester and the procedures, and should offer appropriate guidance to ensure that it all gets done.

What is the rule about continuous enrollment?
• All graduate degree-seeking students must be continuously enrolled. Continuous enrollment is defined as completing, with grades assigned, a minimum of 6 hours of graduate credit every three continuous semesters. Colleges and programs may have additional requirements. Students on an approved leave of absence are not subject to the enrollment requirement for the time approved for the leave. See also the Time Limitations Policy.

• Once a student has moved to the dissertation stage, they must register for a minimum of 2 credits per semester to remain in good standing. Students who are dropped from degree-seeking status and formally readmitted to the program must enroll in a minimum of 5dissertation hours in the semester that the readmission is effective.

• In addition, the student must register for a minimum of 2 credits in the semester in which they graduate (even if the student wishes to graduate in the summer term). In many cases, the student has completed the work, and may even have defended in theprevious semester, but missed the deadline to submit the final dissertation and graduate. Even in those cases, Graduate School regulations require enrollment in the semester of graduation.

Graduation

• In order to graduate, a student must submit an "Application for Degree" to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline noted in the Academic Calendar for the term during which graduation is anticipated. The completed dissertation must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School before the published deadline (roughly 3 weeks prior to the end of the semester during which graduation is expected).

• Graduation Requirements for the Ph.D. program in History at USF:

1. Satisfactory completion of required coursework

2. Successful completion of Comprehensive Exams

3. Foreign Language: Students must demonstrate proficiency in the languages required by their field of study, but they may be required to take additional exams depending on their specialization. Written examinations to test a student’s language proficiency will be administered through the USF Department of World Languages in conjunction with the student’s advisor.

4. Dissertation Defense and Submission: Complete and orally defend a dissertation based upon an original investigation of primary sources and in dialogue with the relevant scholarly literature on the topic.  Dissertation committees must be composed of a minimum of four faculty members.  Faculty from fields other than history or from other institutions may serve on dissertation committees upon approval of the student’s faculty advisor and pursuant to university requirements.  The dissertation must also be submitted in accordance with university guidelines.  See http://www.grad.usf.edu/newsite/thesis.asp

5. Time Frame: All requirements must be completed within the University-mandated eight-year time frame after admission to the Ph.D. program.

For more information contact

Graduate Coordinator of the Dept. of History: Dr. Barbara Berglund, Email: bberglun@cas.usf.edu
Graduate Advisor: Jennifer Dukes, SOC 262.  Voice Mail: (813) 974-6177. Email: jdukes@cas.usf.edu
Office Manager: Judy Drawdy, SOC 260. Voice Mail: (813) 974-2809. Email: jdrawdy@cas.usf.edu